CARS & CONCEPTS: New or refreshed offerings from Chevy, Honda, Hyundai and more

The first electrified Corvette, above, will also be Chevrolet’s quickest production model. Accelerating to 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in 2.5 seconds, the 655-horsepower E-Ray edges out the 670-horsepower trackready Corvette Z06 by a tenth of a second. The E-Ray’s advantage is its eAWD system that couples a 160-horsepower electric motor at the front wheels with a 495-horsepower 6.2-litre V-8 driving the rear wheels. Like the Z06, the E-Ray is nine centimetres wider than the base Corvette. The E-Ray will arrive in late 2023, starting at $128,798, including $2,295 delivery.

2023 HONDA ACCORD

In a world seemingly obsessed with utility vehicles and crossovers, Honda is not giving up on its midsize sedan. The 11th-generation Accord arrived at Canadian dealerships in February. It’s longer than its predecessor and it has a redesigned front end for a sleeker appearance. Two of the three trims available in Canada get hybrid powertrains. The new Accord starts at $38,780, including a $1,780 destination fee. The hybrid starts at $42,780, including delivery.

2023 HYUNDAI IONIQ 6

The newest battery-electric vehicle from Hyundai made its Canadian debut at the Montreal International Auto Show in January, ahead of its spring arrival at dealerships. The automaker has not indicated the pricing for the Ioniq 6, but Natural Resources Canada has released ranges for the three trims available in Canada. The base rear-wheel drive model is rated for 581 kilometres on a full charge, and the all-wheel-drive version is rated at 509. A performance all-wheel-drive model is rated at 435 kilometres.

2024 MAZDA CX-90

The new crossover replaces the CX-9 and rides on a new platform that provides more interior room. Ten trim levels are available in Canada, with high-end variants getting the automaker’s most powerful engine to date: a 340-horsepower turbocharged inline six-cylinder. There’s a base 280-horsepower version (with a 48-volt electric motor) as well as a 323-horsepower plug-in hybrid, which is a first for the automaker in Canada. The CX-90, with standard all-wheel drive and three-row seating, starts at $47,895, including destination charges. It goes on sale in spring.

MERCEDES-BENZ ESPRINTER

A battery-electric version of Mercedes-Benz’s workhorse commercial van is coming to Canada in the second half of 2023. The new eSprinter will take on current or soon-to-launch electric delivery vehicles from rivals such as General Motors’ BrightDrop. Mercedes-Benz plans three battery options for the eSprinter, but at launch there will be just one, rated to provide 400 kilometres of maximum range. Unusual for North America, the battery uses lithium iron phosphate chemistry, which requires no nickel or cobalt.